February 10, 2006 - When a community experiences exciting new growth, jobs are added on an almost daily basis, manufacturing and industry expands, retail outlets spring up, and demands for housing present a challenge. What also arise are questions about annexation, demands on infrastructure, zoning considerations and many others.

In the greater Thief River Falls area, the leadership has decided on a bold, new direction for managing its growth and development. The City has formed a Joint Planning Team that includes members from the Planning and Zoning Board along with two township and three Pennington County representatives.

As a result, a consulting firm that is familiar with the area will develop and implement a new approach to growth management for the community, with the financial support of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

This project will set the stage for future development, help the City understand why development should occur in a prescribed way, and how that development can best be accomplished. "Thief River Falls over the years has tried to be a proactive community rather than a reactive one," said Michael Moore, Community Development Director. "The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has created a process to develop a stage for a future place and to help access the assets needed in order to accomplish those goals."

According to NMF President John Ostrem, Thief River Falls has recently been involved in two other projects supported by NMF. "Thief River Falls recently completed a trade-area housing study and is also one of the members of the Red Lake River Corridor project that will provide good background information for parts of the comprehensive plan."

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.